Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Improved quality of products'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Improved quality of products.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Improved quality of products.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Ljungberg, David. "Effective transport systems in food and agricultural supply chains for improved economy, environment and quality /." Uppsala : Dept. of Biometry and Engineering, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2006. http://epsilon.slu.se/2006100.pdf.
Full text
2
Werner, Benjamin Patrick [Verfasser], and Gerhard [Akademischer Betreuer] Winter. "Filtration and novel polymeric containers for the improved quality of biotech drug products / Benjamin Patrick Werner ; Betreuer: Gerhard Winter." München : Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1202713351/34.
Full text
3
Bergh, Alexandra Jane. "Characterisation of the sensory profile of Cyclopia intermedia and optimisation of fermentation parameters for improved product quality." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95908.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In light of the limited and inconsistent supply of good quality honeybush tea, a species-specific sensory profile and the physicochemical characteristics of Cyclopia intermedia (honeybush) tea were determined to ultimately establish the optimum fermentation parameters for this herbal tea on laboratory-scale and to validate these findings on commercial-scale. The characteristic sensory profile of C. intermedia can be described as sweet tasting and slightly astringent with a combination of “fynbos-floral”, “fynbos-sweet”, “fruity” (specifically “apricot jam”, “cooked apple”, “raisin” and “lemon/lemon grass”), “woody”, “caramel/ vanilla” and “honey-like” aromas. The flavour can be described as distinctly “fynbos-floral”, “fynbos-sweet” and “woody”, including hints of “lemon/lemon grass” and “hay/dried grass”. The results of the sensory study were used to create a C. intermedia sensory wheel and lexicon, and an elementary grading system that categorised samples into “good”, “average” and “poor” sensory quality was proposed. Physicochemical parameters, i.e. soluble solids (SS) content, absorbance as a measure of colour, and turbidity, were evaluated as possible rapid predictors of sensory quality. High SS content, absorbance and turbidity correlated strongly with “poor” sensory quality. A linear relationship existed between the physicochemical parameters. The effect of fermentation temperature (70, 80 and 90°C) and time (12, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h) on the sensory and physicochemical characteristics of C. intermedia was determined on laboratory-scale. Increasing fermentation time increased the intensity of positive sensory attributes, while decreasing the intensity of negative sensory attributes. The SS content, colour and turbidity of infusions decreased with increasing fermentation time, while the SS content and turbidity of infusions increased with increasing fermentation temperature. Fermentation at 90°C for 36 h on laboratory-scale produced C. intermedia with the best sensory properties, while preserving the SS content and colour of infusions. Fermentation at 70°C and 80°C required longer fermentation times for development of positive sensory attributes. Fermentation at 90°C was subsequently validated on commercial-scale. Laboratory-scale fermentation of the same batches of plant material was also carried out concurrently to allow direct comparison of the scale of fermentation on tea quality. Commercial-scale fermentation, despite increased variability as a result of increased batch volumes and heating difficulties, produced C. intermedia of “good” sensory quality after 24 and 36 h of fermentation. Increasing fermentation time had little effect on the SS content and colour of infusions of tea produced on commercial-scale, but turbidity increased significantly after 36 h. Thus, to produce C. intermedia with consistently good quality on commercial-scale, fermentation at 90°C for 24 to 36 h is recommended. Increasing fermentation time past 48 h should be avoided to prevent turbidity and the development of sensory attributes characteristic of over-fermented tea. However, due to the large variability of commercial-scale honeybush tea production, it is recommended that each batch be monitored between 24 and 36 h to determine when optimum fermentation has been obtained.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beperkte en wisselvallige beskikbaarheid van goeie gehalte heuningbostee noodsaak die optimisering van fermentasie parameters vir Cyclopia intermedia. Optimisering van fermentation parameters is op laboratorium skaal gedoen, gevolg deur validasie van die parameters op kommersiële skaal. Vooraf is die spesie-spesifieke sensoriese profiel en die fisies-chemiese eienskappe van C. intermedia tee bepaal. Die kenmerkende sensoriese profiel van C. intermedia kan beskryf word as soet en effens vrank met 'n kombinasie van "fynbos-blomagtige", "fynbos-soet", "vrugtige" (spesifiek "appelkooskonfyt", "gekookte appel", "rosyntjie” en “suurlemoen/sitroen gras"), "houtagtige", "karamel/vanilla" en "heuningagtige" aromas. Die smaak kan beskryf word as "fynbos-blomagtig", "fynbos-soet" en "houtagtig", met 'n tikkie "suurlemoen/sitroen gras" en "hooi/gedroogde gras". Die resultate van die sensoriese studie is gebruik om 'n C. intermedia sensoriese wiel en leksikon, asook 'n basiese graderingstelsel wat tee monsters in "goeie", "gemiddelde" en "swak" sensoriese kwaliteit klassifiseer, te ontwikkel. Fisies-chemiese parameters: oplosbare vastestof (SS) inhoud; absorbansie as 'n maatstaf van kleur; en troebelheid, is geëvalueer as moontlike indikasies van sensoriese kwaliteit. Hoë SS inhoud, absorbansie en troebelheid waardes het sterk met "swak" sensoriese kwaliteit gekorreleer. 'n Lineêre verwantskap bestaan tussen die fisies-chemiese parameters en kwaliteit. Die effek van fermentasie temperatuur (70, 80 en 90°C) en -tyd (12, 16, 24, 36, 48 en 60 h) op die sensoriese en fisies-chemiese eienskappe van C. intermedia is op laboratorium skaal bepaal. Verlenging van fermentasie tyd het die intensiteit van die positiewe sensoriese eienskappe verhoog, terwyl dit die intensiteit van negatiewe sensoriese eienskappe verminder het. Die SS inhoud, kleur en troebelheid van die tee het met verlengde fermentasie tyd afgeneem, terwyl die SS inhoud en troebelheid met verhoging van fermentasie temperatuur toegeneem het. Fermentasie by 90°C vir 36 h op laboratorium skaal het tee met die beste sensoriese eienskappe geproduseer, met behoud van die SS inhoud en kleur. Fermentasie by 70°C en 80°C het 'n langer fermentasie tyd vir die ontwikkeling van positiewe sensoriese eienskappe vereis. Fermentasie by 90°C is daaropvolgens op kommersiële skaal uitgevoer, met gelyktydige laboratorium skaal fermentasie van dieselfde plantmateriaal lotte om die direkte effek van die skaal van fermentasie op tee kwaliteit te bepaal. Kommersiële fermentasie, ten spyte van verhoogde wisselvalligheid as gevolg van groot volumes tee en probleme met verhitting, het tee van "goeie" sensoriese kwaliteit na fermentasie periodes van 24 en 36 h geproduseer. Verlenging van fermentasie tyd het min uitwerking op die SS inhoud en kleur van kommersiel gefermenteerde tea gehad, maar troebelheid het beduidend na 36 h toegeneem. Fermentasie by 90°C vir 24 - 36 h word gevolglik aanbeveel om tee met goeie gehalte op kommersiële skaal te produseer. Fermentasie vir langer as 48 h moet vermy word om troebelheid te voorkom en die ontwikkeling van sensoriese eienskappe kenmerkend van oor-gefermenteerde tee te vermy. As gevolg van faktore wat groot variasie in kommersiële skaal heuningbostee produksie kan teweegbring, word aanbeveel dat elke produksielot tussen 24 en 36 h gemonitor word om die optimum fermentasie tyd te bepaal.
4
Gourbatsi, Evdoxia. "Development of High Concentration Therapeutic Antibody Formulations and Monitoring Procedures for Improved Delivery and Protein Product Quality Assurance." Thesis, University of Kent, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.523627.
Full text
5
Nguyen, Van Hieu, Thanh Nghi Nguyen, Quang Vinh Le, Minh Anh Le, Van Hung Nguyen, and Martin Gummert. "Developing densified products to reduce transportation costs and improve the quality of rice straw feedstocks for cattle feeding." Technische Universität Dresden, 2018. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A33313.
Full textAbstract:
Densification of rice straw such as compacting and pelletizing is an important process to increase the density of rice straw resulting in a reduction of transportation cost. Within this research, we conducted a techno-economic investigation of rice straw densification to produce compressed bales and pellets, which are later used for animal feed. In line with the main deliverable of the performance of rice straw compacting and pelletizing processes, we also looked into the quality of the product in terms of uptake and digestibility of the cattle feed which could be improved by adding amendments such as urea during the compacting process. The compacting technology resulted in a 400% increase of bale density (from 94 to 390 kg.m-3). This could reduce transportation costs by about 60% for a 60 km driving distance using trucks. The net profit that resulted from compacted bales was USD 0.0062 kg-1. Although the pelletizing technology increased the cost of the densified product by 40–50%, its density increases by 700%, from 94 to 666 kg.m-3. The enriched-rice straw pellets contained 12.1% protein, 2.8% lipid, 32.7% raw fibre, and 11.2% ash. In addition, a test of this product for cattle feeding illustrated an increase in its eating desirability for cows. Findings from this study contribute to reducing feedstock cost and developing densified rice straw products. These, therefore, provide more alternative options to increase the benefits from rice production and thus, reduce the unsustainable burning of rice straw in the field.Nén ép rơm là quá trình quan trọng và cần thiết để tăng khối lượng thể tích với mục đích giảm chi phí vận chuyển. Trong nghiên cứu này, chúng tôi đã thực hiện nghiên cứu đánh giá tính khả thi về kỹ thuật và kinh tế đối với nội dung nén ép rơm cuộn và ép viên rơm. Cùng với mục đích chính là tăng dung trọng của sản phẩm từ rơm, chúng tôi cũng đánh giá chất lượng sản phẩm làm thức ăn cho bò giúp cho tăng kích thích quá trình tiêu hóa. Kết quả nén ép cuộn rơm đã làm tăng dung trọng của kiện rơm đến 400% (từ 94 đến 398.7 kg.m-3). Qua đó, đã giảm được chi phí vận chuyển 60% được ước tính cho 60 km khoảng cách vận chuyển. Đối với ép viên rơm, dung trọng tăng đến 700% (từ 94 đến 666 kg.m-3). Hàm lượng dinh dưỡng của viên nén hỗn hợp rơm gồm protein (12,1%), chất béo (2,8%), chất xơ (32,7%), và lượng tro tổng (11,2%). Ngoài ra, kết quả thử nghiệm cho bò ăn sản phẩm viên nén này cho thấy bò có cảm giác thích và ăn hết toàn bộ viên nén. Kết quả của nghiên cứu đã góp phần giảm chi phí khi sản xuất thức ăn cho bò, tăng thu nhập cho người nông dân và từ đó giảm tác động môi trường do việc đốt rơm trên đồng.
6
Ramos, Óscar Leandro da Silva. "Development and Characterization of bioactive, edible whey protein films and coatings to improve quality and safety of Food products." Doctoral thesis, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/9781.
Full text
7
Nuti, Russell C. "Improving Cotton Production Margins through Management Decisions and Use of New and Standard commercial Products to Improve Quality and Profits." NCSU, 2004. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-09092004-101557/.
Full textAbstract:
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a perennial plant managed as an annual crop to optimize yield and fiber quality while managing inputs to maximize profit. Transgenic improvements have simplified cotton production. Resistance to the non-selective herbicide glyphosate and in-plant production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxin are two such advances. Cultural practices including use of mepiquat chloride (MC), and optimizing planting date contribute to crop uniformity and decrease risk involved with environmental stresses. Comparisons between conventional and transgenic weed and insect management systems, optimal and late planting dates, overhead sprinkle irrigation and drip irrigation, and use of MC were evaluated. Optimal-planted cotton had better yield than cotton planted late. Mepiquat chloride did not always provide an advantage, however never caused an undesirable response. At times, cotton plants treated with MC showed improved micronaire, compensation for boll loss, and earlier maturity. Broadcast glyphosate at the eight-leaf stage reduced yield of optimal-planted cotton in 1 of 3 years and 2 of 3 years in late-planted cotton. Glyphosate contact after the four-leaf stage in 2 of 3 years shifted the majority of bolls above node 10. Lint yield results were variable between overhead sprinkle and drip irrigation systems. Mepiquat chloride did not affect yield in irrigated cotton, however did control plant height, and improve fruit retention and cotton maturity. Non-labeled glyphosate applications reduced maturity in each irrigation system in 1 of 3 years. Cotton injury caused by conventional herbicides resulted in yield loss and poor returns compared to glyphosate systems. Early-season weed competition from low input herbicide programs caused cotton biomass reduction. High costs of conventional herbicide programs offset the available profit margin compared to glyphosate systems when yields were similar. Glyphosate systems provided excellent control of all weed species, while conventional herbicides gave acceptable control in most cases. Glyphosate resistant cotton cultivars with had better yield and returned more profit than the same cultivars treated with conventional herbicides.
8
Magnusson, Madeleine. "Bacillus cereus in the housing environment of dairy cows : contamination routes, effect of teat-cleaning, and measures to improve hygiene in the cubicles and alleys /." Alnarp : Dept. of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. http://epsilon.slu.se/200742.pdf.
Full text
9
Al-Kutby, Sahar. "Applications of spice extracts and other hurdles to improve microbial safety and shelf-life of cooked, high fat meat products (doner kebab)." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/1184.
Full textAbstract:
There is a growing demand for safe and convenient meat products. The effect of natural spice extracts incorporated with other hurdles for controlling pathogenic bacteria and extending the shelf life of RTE doner kebab were investigated. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to establish the status of microbial risk, use of additives, knowledge on oxidative deterioration and HACCP associated with meat products. The in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of spice extracts were screened and compared. Cinnamon, clove, and sumac alcoholic extracts demonstrated strong antimicrobial effect, however, rosemary proved effective as antioxidant in a lamb fat model. An accelerated shelf life study on a model system indicated that storage temperature was the most critical factor affecting lipid oxidation, which was effectively delayed by vacuum packaging and rosemary extracts. The effects of spice extracts, packaging and storage time on physiochemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes of doner kebab were evaluated. Application of rosemary and cinnamon extracts significantly reduced TVC, inhibited LAB, and retarded lipid oxidation rate. Sensory evaluation by a consumer panel indicated that only taste and spiciness perception was significantly different between treatments. A challenge test against Listeria monocytogenes showed significant differences between control and spice treatments at day 28. Strong inhibitory effects were associated to high levels of cinnamon particularly when applied after cooking. The effect of heat treatment and sumac (Rhus coriaria) on Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens inactivation was evaluated on a doner kebab prototype. Addition of sumac significantly reduced D-values and z-values for both organisms in comparison to the control. The investigation of the effect of spice extracts, and environmental conditions on changes in growth kinetic parameters for L. monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium showed that spice extracts are highly significant. For both microorganisms, Mumax was reduced as salt and spice concentrations increased, and pH levels decreased. This study shows that spice extracts incorporated with other hurdles can help to maintain safe and good quality RTE doner kebab.
10
Romuli, Sebastian [Verfasser]. "Process optimisation of oil and protein recovery from Jatropha curcas L. seeds in terms of hulling, shelling and mechanical extraction for improved efficiency and product quality / Sebastian Romuli." Aachen : Shaker, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1149278633/34.
Full text
11
Black, Steve E. "Using Basic Quality Tools to Improve Production Yields and Product Quality in Manufacturing." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2594.
Full textAbstract:
As the U.S. and world economies emerge from years of recession, the hardwood flooring market is currently enjoying strong growth. With this growth come new challenges for hardwood flooring manufacturers. Strong competition from foreign markets and rising log prices are reducing product margins and forcing companies to think lean, while improving product quality.
QEP Wood Flooring division, who struggled through the worst of the U.S. economic down turn is now regaining ground as a strong competitor in the hardwood flooring market. This turnaround is due to internal changes to decrease waste and increase product quality. This is accomplished by using the quality control department as a tool to aid manufacturing.
To accomplish these changes, QEP implemented the use of quality tools and employee awareness training; as a result QEP increased overall product quality and yields while reducing customer claim pay outs.
12
Har-Noy, Shay Shmuel. "Improved LCD motion picture quality." Diss., [La Jolla] : University of California, San Diego, 2009. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3356431.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2009.Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 16, 2009). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-114).
13
Upal, Muhammad Afzal. "Learning to improve quality of the plans produced by partial order planners." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape3/PQDD_0011/NQ59687.pdf.
Full text
14
Johansson, Jimmy. "Mechanical processing for improved products made from Swedish hardwood." Doctoral thesis, Växjö : Växjö University Press, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-2457.
Full text
15
Komak, Wagma, Jeremy Smart, and Jennifer White. "Quality Assessment of Internet Pharmaceutical Products." The University of Arizona, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/624403.
Full textAbstract:
Class of 2007 AbstractObjectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of study medications obtained without a prescription through international websites. Methods: Samples of levothyroxine, warfarin, and sildenafil were obtained through various websites and compared to U.S. standards. Each sample was physically evaluated for weight, color, shape, and external tablet markings. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to quantify the amount of active ingredient. Results: When physically inspected, only 3 of the 9 lots met FDA labeling requirements. Three of 60 (20 tablets from 3 lots) of the individual levothyroxine tablets were out of the USP acceptable range (90% - 110%). For warfarin, 16 of the 60 samples (20 samples from 3 lots) of the individual tablets were out of the USP acceptable range (95% - 105%). When averaged, each of the lots for both levothyroxine and warfarin were within their USP acceptable ranges. As sildenafil is not available as generic in the U.S., there is no USP standard acceptable range for comparison. All of the sildenafil samples fell within 90%- 105% of Viagra® tablets obtained from a local pharmacy. Conclusions: While there were a few samples outside of the U.S. acceptable range, the majority of samples analyzed for active ingredient were within the range published in the USP. While the outcomes of this study presented interesting findings, further evaluation in larger studies is needed to properly assess the quality of foreign medications purchased over the internet.
16
Altube, Vázquez Patricia. "Procedures for improved weather radar data quality control." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/400398.
Full textAbstract:
Weather radar data and its downstream products are essential elements in weather surveillance and key parameters in the initialisation and validation of hydrological and meteorological models, among other downstream applications. Following the quality standards established by the European and global weather radar networking referents, the present thesis aims for the improvement of the base data quality control in the regional weather radar network operated by the Meteorological Service of Catalonia, the XRAD. This objective is accomplished through the analysis, development and implementation of new or existing procedures and algorithms for radar data quality assessment and improvement. Attending to the current radar technology and to the already implemented quality control procedures for the XRAD, the work is focused on the continuous evaluation of the radar system calibration status and on the correction of Doppler velocity data. The quality control algorithms and recommendations presented are easily translatable to any other operative weather radar networking environment.
A Sun-based, fully automatic procedure for online monitoring the antenna alignment and the receiver chain calibration is adapted and operationally implemented for the XRAD. This Sun-monitoring technique was developed at the Royal Netherlands and Finnish Meteorological Institutes and is included in the quality control flow of numerous weather radar networks around the world. The method is modified for a robust detection and characterisation of solar interferences in raw data at all scan elevations, even when only data at relatively short ranges is available. The modified detection algorithm is also suitable for detecting interferences from wireless devices, which are stored for monitoring their incidence in the XRAD. The solar interferences detected, in turn, are input observations for the inversion of a two-dimensional Gaussian model that yields estimates of the calibration parameters of interest. A complete theoretical derivation of the model establishes its validity limits and provides analytical estimates of the effective solar widths directly from radar parameters. Results of application of this Sun-monitoring methodology to XRAD data reveal its ability to determine the accuracy of the antenna pointing and to detect changes in receiver calibration and radar system operation status.
In order to facilitate the usage of the Sun-monitoring technique and the interpretation of its estimates, the methodology is reproduced under controlled conditions based on the distributions of solar observations collected by two of the XRAD radars. The analysis shows that the accuracy of the estimated calibration parameters is conditioned by the precision, number and distribution of the solar observations which constitute key variables that need to be controlled to ensure reliable estimates. In addition, the Sun-monitoring technique is compared under actual operative conditions with two other common techniques for quantifying the antenna azimuth and elevation pointing offsets. Pointing bias estimates gathered in a dedicated short-term campaign are studied in a direct inter- comparison of the methods that reflects the advantages and limitations in each case. The analysis of the bias estimates reported by the methods in the course of a one-year period reveals that the performance of the techniques depends on the antenna position at the time of the measurement. After this study, a reanalysis of the Sun-monitoring method results is proposed, which allows to additionally quantify the antenna pedestal levelling error.
Finally, a post-processing, spatial image filtering algorithm for identification and correction of unfolding errors in dual-PRF Doppler velocity data is proposed. The correction of these errors benefits the usage of radar velocity data in downstream applications such as wind- shear and mesocyclone detection algorithms or assimilation in numerical weather prediction models. The main strengths of the proposed algorithm, in comparison with existing correction techniques, are its robustness to the presence of clustered unfolding errors and that it can be employed independently of post-processing dealiasing algorithms. By means of simulated dual-PRF velocity fields, the correction ability of the algorithm is quantitatively analysed and discussed with particular emphasis on the correction of clustered errors. The quality improvement in real dual-PRF data brought out by the new algorithm is illustrated through application to three selected severe weather events registered by the XRAD.Seguint els estàndards de qualitat establerts per a les xarxes de radars meteorològics de referència a nivell europeu i global, la present tesi té com a objectiu la millora del control de qualitat de les dades de la xarxa regional de radars meteorològics operada pel Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (la XRAD). Atenent als procediments de control de qualitat ja implementats per a la XRAD, el treball es centra en l'avaluació contínua de l'estat del calibratge del sistema radar i en la correcció de les dades de velocitat Doppler. Es presenta l'adaptació i aplicació d’un procediment totalment automàtic basat en el Sol, que permet la quantificació remota dels errors d'alineació de l'antena i de calibratge en recepció del radar a la XRAD. El mètode ha estat modificat per a la detecció i caracterització robusta d'interferències solars a les dades primàries de radar. Les interferències solars són utilitzades per a la inversió d'un model físic que proporciona estimacions dels paràmetres de calibratge d'interès. L'algoritme de detecció modificat també és adequat per a la identificació d'interferències procedents de dispositius electrònics externs. Aquestes interferències són emmagatzemades per al seguiment de la seva incidència a la XRAD. La metodologia solar esmentada es modelitza en condicions controlades a partir de la distribució de les observacions solars recollides per dos dels radars de la XRAD. L'anàlisi mostra que la precisió, el nombre i la distribució de les observacions solars constitueixen variables clau que necessiten ser controlades per garantir estimacions fiables dels paràmetres de calibrage. A més, la tècnica solar es compara, sota condicions operatives reals, amb altres dues tècniques habitualment emprades per a la quantificació de l'error d'apuntament de l'antena. A partir d'aquest estudi, es proposa un nou mètode d'anàlisi de les interferències solars, el cual permet quantificar l'error d'anivellament del pedestal de l'antena. Finalment, es desenvolupa i valida un algoritme de filtrat d'imatges per a la identificació i correcció dels errors característics que es donen lloc a les dades dual-PRF de velocitat Doppler. Els punts forts de l'algoritme proposat, en comparació amb les tècniques de correcció existents, són la seva robustesa en la correció d'errors agrupats i que pot emprar- se amb independència dels algoritmes de dealiasing. La millora de la qualitat de les dades reals de velocitat s'il·lustra mitjançant l'aplicació de l’algoritme a tres episodis de temps sever enregistrats per la XRAD.
17
Chen, Yan. "Data Quality Assessment Methodology for Improved Prognostics Modeling." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1330024393.
Full text
18
McGraw, Brad. "Recycling veneer-mill residues into engineered products with improved torsional rigidity." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10450/10576.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 92 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-90).
19
Pettersson, Anna-Lena. "Zero Tolerance Program : A strategic approach to reduce operational cost and improve quality levels." Thesis, Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-10015.
Full textAbstract:
For a company to be competitive today, one way is to create a natural feedback loop from the production department to the design department with information regarding the production systems ability to deliver a finished component. The purpose with this feedback loop is to create respect for tolerances and to more design for manufacturing and assembly. The studied company in this thesis work developed a quality program to reach a spiral of continuous improvements to reduce cost of poor quality (CoPQ) and to reach an improved quality level (PPM). The object of this work was to test and improve the quality program called The Zero Tolerance Program. Delimitations were made when the work was started and ongoing which led to that the impact on PPM could not be studied. The connection to CoPQ was difficult to obtain and could only be proved theoretically, not practically, due to the short timetable.
During the short amount of time the right root cause could not be found. The thesis work findings came to a number of identified Measurable Success Criteria and requirements which must be in place for the further progress of The Zero Tolerance Program.
PREPARE
20
Odugbemi, Adeniyi Adedayo. "Safe Quality Food Certification and Producing Safe and Quality Food Products." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4399.
Full textAbstract:
The food sector accounts for $1 of every $6 in the U.S. economy, with more than $700 billion in revenue every year. However, incidents of food safety and substandard quality continue to rise. Consumers are beginning to mistrust and have lower confidence in the food supply chain. Food manufacturers need to address this issue to remain profitable. One approach includes the introduction of food policy programs that allow for independent auditing and certifications such as the Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification. The SQF certification was established as a rigorous and credible benchmark for food handlers to enforce food safety and quality standards. The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to evaluate the perceived usefulness of the SQF certification to food manufacturers. Guided by the theory of diffusion of innovation, data collection for this study included 35 stakeholder semistructured interviews and a review of 5 publicly available documents for triangulation. Thematic analysis of the transcripts was performed to generate answers to the research questions. Study findings revealed that if properly implemented, the SQF certification is a credible and robust GFSI scheme that provides effective guidelines for food production. Findings also revealed 2 opportunities for improvement. Participants noted that training programs for SQF practitioners and auditors should be improved, likewise more commitment and involvement of facility management should be required. The findings may contribute to social change by providing food producers with strategies to minimize food production failures. With the perceived benefits of the SQF certification, other food producers who have not adopted this scheme can benefit from this holistic certification to enhance their food production network.
21
Sears, Kenneth. "Viewpoint quality model : a software quality model for the application of software quality metrics." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.341698.
Full text
22
Hill, Elizabeth M. "Benign Tunable Solvents for Improved Processing of Pharmaceutically Relevant Products and Catalysts." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/16320.
Full textAbstract:
Sustainable technologies are vital to reducing the environmental impact of chemical enterprises. Solvents are often seen as just a medium in which a reaction takes place; however they can also play a dominant role in the overall toxicity of a typical pharmaceutical/fine chemicals batch chemical operation. Further, careful solvent selection for a reaction may also lead to more facile separation and purification of products, thus reducing the overall cost of a chemical process.
This thesis presents an environmentally benign processing technique for sustainable biocatalytic reactions coupled with facile built-in separation. An organic aqueous tunable solvent (OATS) system allows access to a hydrophobic substrate which is transformed with a homogeneous enzymatic catalyst in a single liquid phase. Subsequent CO2 addition produces a biphasic mixture where the hydrophobic product partitions preferentially into the organic rich phase for separation while the hydrophilic enzyme catalyst partitions into the aqueous rich phase, where it is recyclable. Processing parameters in OATS systems are discussed and an overall product recovery of 80% is observed after six reaction cycles. Additionally, greater than 99% enantiomeric excess (ee) is shown for catalyzed hydrolysis of rac-1-phenylethyl acetate with Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL B) both before and after CO2-induced separation.
23
Galadima, Ahmad. "Development of new and improved catalysts for the isomerisation of refinery products." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2012. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=189408.
Full textAbstract:
As the recent environmental legislation highlights the risks associated with the use of gasoline additives such as octane enhancers, hydroisomerisation of n-alkanes in the gasoline feed to their corresponding isomers emerges as a key industrial alternative. Important catalysts have previously been tested and abandoned due to a number of problems including cost and poor resistance to catalyst poisons even in trace quantities. The current research evaluated the potentials of zirconia supported molybdenum carbide catalysts as replacements. The active carbided MoO3/ZrO2, MoO3/SO42- -ZrO2 and Rh/MoO3/ZrO2 have been prepared by in situ carburisation with CH4/H2 at 650oC and characterised by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, and temperature programmed reduction and oxidation. The characterisation data showed the carburisation process to proceed in a stepwise manner, involving the participation of hydrogen and methane as reducing and carbiding agents, respectively. Low (0.5 wt %) Rh loading and pre-treatment cycle via reduction and reoxidation significantly reduced the carburisation temperature, with the extent of the effect been dependent on the MoO3 loading. All of the catalysts produced showed stable activity and selectivity. Over the carbided MoO3/ZrO2, the activity was generally low at 450oC, producing mainly hydrogenolysis products. However, the activity of carbided MoO3/SO42- -ZrO2 at 350-450oC showed strong dependence on the nature of the n-alkane with reaction rates being lower for the higher alkanes. n-Nonane and n-octane produced mainly hydrocracking products whereas n-hexane and n-heptane were converted to the corresponding isomers with a very high selectivity. The catalyst forms a potential material for hydroisomerisation of gasoline range light paraffins. The 10 wt% Rh/MoO3/ZrO2 catalyst was more active to hydrogenolysis than with 25 wt% Rh/MoO3/ZrO2 under similar conditions due to higher activity of Rh species. However, the hydroisomerisation selectivity was highly favoured at lower temperatures, especially with n-hexane.
24
Amache, Rana. "Quorum sensing for improved production of industrially useful products from filamentous fungi." Thesis, University of Westminster, 2014. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8y9x2/quorum-sensing-for-improved-production-of-industrially-useful-products-from-filamentous-fungi.
Full textAbstract:
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density dependant phenomena utilized as a communication process among microorganisms to regulate their physiological responses. QS depends on the production and release of low molecular weight, diffusible chemical signalling molecules, known as quorum sensing molecules (QSM) in the extracellular milieu. When the concentrations of the QSMs reach a critical threshold corresponding to a particular cell density, they bind to a receptor enabling them to function as transcriptional regulators. QS is widely studied in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in addition to unicellular fungi. Various recent studies report the presence of QS in filamentous fungi. Lipophilic molecules, including lactone-based molecules and the oxygenated poly-unsaturated fatty acids, oxylipins, are the major signalling molecules reported in filamentous fungi. This study correlates the cell-densities of filamentous fungi to the regulation of their different physiological responses. Two fungal species have been investigated. The first is Penicillium sclerotiorum. It was found that addition of ethyl acetate extracts from high cell densities of P. sclerotiorum culture increases sporulation delays the onset of hyphal branching and enhances the production of the secondary metabolite, sclerotiorin in shaken flasks as well as stirred tank bioreactors (STR). GC-MS analysis of the high cell-density extracts revealed several molecules including the oxylipin ricinoleic acid that might be involved in the regulation of the P. sclerotiorum physiological responses via QS. The second species studied was Aspergillus terreus. Here, the role of oxylipins as signalling molecules was investigated. It was found that the supplementation of linoleic acid, as an oxylipin precursor, enhances the production of the secondary metabolite lovastatin in shaken flasks and STRs. Studies using linoleic acid were extended, to investigate its effect on the cytosolic proteome profile of A. terreus. Results showed that several proteins were altered, mainly stress-related proteins and those involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, the effect of different oxylipins was investigated on intracellular cAMP levels. It was observed that addition of oxylipins induces a burst in cAMP levels; in particular 9-HpODE, the linoleic acid-derived oxylipin in A. terreus, induces cAMP levels in a dose dependant manner. In silico analysis of A. terreus genome revealed the presence of genes encoding the different components of G-protein/cAMP-mediated signalling. It is speculated that the addition of 9-HpODE activates the signalling mechanism in A. terreus by binding to G-protein coupled receptors. Upon activation, the secondary messenger cAMP is produced. cAMP then induces the expression of different genes, triggering different cellular responses such as sporulation, and secondary metabolism in A. terreus.
25
Konaté, Cheick Mohamed. "Enhancing speech coder quality: improved noise estimation for postfilters." Thesis, McGill University, 2011. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=104578.
Full textAbstract:
ITU-T G.711.1 is a multirate wideband extension for the well-known ITU-T G.711 pulse code modulation of voice frequencies. The extended system is fully interoperable with the legacy narrowband one. In the case where the legacy G.711 is used to code a speech signal and G.711.1 is used to decode it, quantization noise may be audible. For this situation, the standard proposes an optional postfilter. The application of postfiltering requires an estimation of the quantization noise. The more accurate the estimate of the quantization noise is, the better the performance of the postfilter can be.In this thesis, we propose an improved noise estimator for the postfilter proposed for the G.711.1 codec and assess its performance. The proposed estimator provides a more accurate estimate of the noise with the same computational complexity.ITU-T G.711.1 est une extension multi-débit pour signaux à large-bande de la très répandue norme de compression audio de UIT-T G.711. Cette extension est interoperationelle avec sa version initiale à bande étroite. Lorsque l'ancienne version G.711 est employée pour coder un signal vocal et que G.711.1 est utiliser pour le décoder, le bruit de quantificationpeut être entendu. Pour ce cas, la norme propose un post-filtre optionel. Le post-filtre nécessite l'estimation du bruit de quantification. La précision de l'estimation du bruit de quantification va jouer sur la performance du post-filtre.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons un meilleur estimateur du bruit de quantification pour le post-filtre proposé pour le codec G.711.1 et nous évaluons ses performances. L'estimateur que nous proposons donne une estimation plus précise du bruit de quantification avec la même complexité.
26
Toye, Warren, and michelletoye@optusnet com au. "HDR Brachytherapy: Improved Methods of Implementation and Quality Assurance." RMIT University. Applied Sciences, 2007. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080528.091630.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis describes experimental work performed (1998-2001) during the author's involvement with the Brachytherapy group at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), where he was employed by its Department of Physical Sciences and subsequent modeling and analytical studies. When PMCC added HDR brachytherapy to its radiation therapy practice, an existing operating suite was considered the ideal location for such procedures to be carried out. The integration of brachytherapy into the theatre environment was considered logical due to the relatively invasive nature of brachytherapy techniques and the availability of medical equipment. This thesis contains the detailed study of three key Research Questions involved in clinical aspects relating to quality assurance of an HDR brachytherapy practice. An investigative chapter is dedicated to the pursuit of each of the Research Questions. The first question asked
Is the novel approach to using modular shielding combined with time and distance constraints adequately optimized during HDR brachytherapy? In order to establish optimal clinical practices, this project evaluates the effectiveness of additional shielding added to the modular shielding system without modification of the previously determined time and distance constraints for PMCC staff, other patients, and member of the public. The DOSXYZnrc user code for the EGSnrc Monte Carlo radiation transport code has been used to model exposure pathways to strategic locations used for measurement in and around the operating theatre suite. Modeling allowed exposure pathways to various areas with the facility to be tested without the need to use real sources. The second Research Question asked
How well is dose anisotropy characterized in the near field range of the clinic's HDR 192Ir source? This study experimentally investigated the anisotropy of dose around a 192Ir HDR source in a water phantom using MOSFETs as relative dosimeters. In addition, modeling using the DOSRZnrc user code for the EGSnrc Monte Carlo radiation transport code was performed to provide a complete dose distribution consistent with the MOSFET measurements. Measurements performed for radial distances from 5 to 30 mm extend the range of measurements to 5 mm which has not been previously reported for this source construction. The third Research Question is aimed at the patient level. Is the dose delivered to in vivo dosimeters, located within critical anatomical structures near the prostate, within acceptable clinical tolerance for a large group of HDR prostate patients? An in vivo dosimetry technique employing TLDs to experimentally measure doses delivered to the urethra and rectum during HDR prostate brachytherapy was investigated. Urethral and rectal in vivo measurements for 56 patients have been performed in the initial fraction of four-fraction brachytherapy boost. In the absence of comparable in vivo data, the following local corrective action level was initially proposed: more than 50% of the prostatic urethra receiving a dose 10% beyond the urethral tolerance. The level for investigative action is considered from the analyses of dose differences between measured data and TPS calculation.
27
Kweh, Teck Hock. "Improved quality block-based low bit rate video coding." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1998. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/844563/.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this research is to develop algorithms for enhancing the subjective quality and coding efficiency of standard block-based video coders. In the past few years, numerous video coding standards based on motion-compensated block-transform structure have been established where block-based motion estimation is used for reducing the correlation between consecutive images and block transform is used for coding the resulting motion-compensated residual images. Due to the use of predictive differential coding and variable length coding techniques, the output data rate exhibits extreme fluctuations. A rate control algorithm is devised for achieving a stable output data rate. This rate control algorithm, which is essentially a bit-rate estimation algorithm, is then employed in a bit-allocation algorithm for improving the visual quality of the coded images, based on some prior knowledge of the images. Block-based hybrid coders achieve high compression ratio mainly due to the employment of a motion estimation and compensation stage in the coding process. The conventional bit-allocation strategy for these coders simply assigns the bits required by the motion vectors and the rest to the residual image. However, at very low bit-rates, this bit-allocation strategy is inadequate as the motion vector bits takes up a considerable portion of the total bit-rate. A rate-constrained selection algorithm is presented where an analysis-by-synthesis approach is used for choosing the best motion vectors in term of resulting bit rate and image quality. This selection algorithm is then implemented for mode selection. A simple algorithm based on the above-mentioned bit-rate estimation algorithm is developed for the latter to reduce the computational complexity. For very low bit-rate applications, it is well-known that block-based coders suffer from blocking artifacts. A coding mode is presented for reducing these annoying artifacts by coding a down-sampled version of the residual image with a smaller quantisation step size. Its applications for adaptive source/channel coding and for coding fast changing sequences are examined.
28
Salter, Elizabeth H. "Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass for improved liquid fuel quality." Thesis, Aston University, 2001. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/9633/.
Full text
29
Wooldridge, Lydia Katherine. "Supplementing Bovine Embryo Culture Media to Improve the Production and Quality of In Vitro Produced Bovine Embryos." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/105143.
Full textAbstract:
Initial studies in this work explored the role of interleukin-6 (IL6) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in preimplantation bovine embryos. Neither cytokine affected the total percentage of embryos which developed to the blastocyst stage in vitro. However, supplementation of IL6 increased blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM) cell number without affecting trophectoderm (TE) cell number. Additionally, we found that IL6 activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) specifically within ICM cells. LIF, however, did not affect ICM cell number or activate STAT3 in ICM cells, and was not pursued further. This increase in ICM cell number by IL6 was largely comprised of hypoblast (GATA6+:NANOG-) cells, and most IL6-responsive cells in day 9 blastocysts were hypoblast cells (as measured by STAT3 activation). However, some epiblast (NANOG+) cells were also IL6-responsive, and IL6 appeared to initially slow epiblast differentiation. Finally, IL6-treated blastocysts also had increased transcripts of hypoblast/primitive endoderm (PE) markers. These results indicate that IL6 may improve pregnancy retention of IVP embryos by improving yolk sac development, but further work is needed to confirm this theory.
Activation of STAT3 by IL6 could be blocked with a chemical Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor (AZD1480). JAK2 inhibition from day 5 to 8 resulted in blastocyst ICMs with fewer than 10% the normal cell number, regardless of IL6 supplementation. This indicates that STAT3 is critical for bovine ICM development. Further analysis revealed that inhibition of JAK2/STAT did not prevent ICM formation but disrupted its maintenance.
Additionally, we assessed the suitability of zinc sulfate and a bovine embryonic stem cell culture media (TeSR) for improving bovine embryo development in vitro. Zinc sulfate increased day 8 blastocyst total and ICM cell number. Therefore, zinc sulfate appears to improve blastocyst quality. The TeSR medium improved embryo development beyond day 8. In normal synthetic oviduct fluid, blastocysts degenerated after day 8, while blastocysts moved to TeSR had greatly increased cell numbers, and even exhibited PE migration out from the ICM, a phenomenon that has not been reported in vitro. This indicates that extended blastocyst culture is possible with TeSR media.Doctor of Philosophy
Bovine embryos have been produced in vitro for the purpose of being transferred to recipient cattle to produce a calf since the 1980s. This practice allows cattle breeders to increase the number of offspring from their best females each year, and also allows for more rapid progress in generational genetic improvement. However, only approximately 10% of bovine oocytes survive and produce a calf. This poor efficiency of bovine in vitro embryo production negatively impacts the procedure's widespread use. A significant portion of these embryo losses are likely a result of inadequate in vitro culture conditions, particularly of the embryo culture media, the fluid in which embryos are grown. This media is often called "synthetic oviduct fluid," or SOF, because it is designed to mimic the fluid present in the cow's oviduct, where the embryo would normally reside. However, SOF is much simpler in nature than actual cow oviduct fluid, and this leads to reduced embryonic survival of in vitro produced embryos. Unfortunately, we know very little of what molecules control and promote bovine embryo development. Therefore, one major goal of bovine embryo research is to identify these factors and add them to SOF. The goal of this work was to examine the ability of three molecules, interleukin-6 (IL6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and zinc sulfate, to increase the number and quality of blastocysts produced through in vitro culture techniques. Additionally, I tested the replacement of SOF with a complex cell culture media, known as TeSR. This medium is more complex than SOF, and therefore should better promote embryo development. This work revealed that IL6, but not LIF, improves in vitro produced (IVP) bovine blastocyst quality. Unfortunately, neither IL6 nor LIF affected the percentage of embryos which survived to the blastocyst stage. However, IL6, but not LIF, increased the number of cells in the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocysts. ICM cells are the portion of the embryo which will produce the future calf. IVP bovine embryos are known to have fewer cells than normal, in vivo derived, blastocysts, and this issue is believed to cause some embryonic death after embryo transfer. Therefore, treatment with IL6 may increase the percentage of embryos which will survive after transfer and produce a calf. We also found the addition of zinc sulfate to SOF to benefit embryo quality. None of the concentrations of zinc significantly improved the percentage of embryos which survived to the blastocyst stage, but 2 µM zinc did increase ICM cell number. Like IL6, this may improve embryo survival after transfer. The use of the TeSR media as a replacement for SOF had some benefits. Unfortunately, this media is unusable for producing embryos for transfer to recipients, as we discovered early embryos could not survive in the media. However, blastocyst-stage embryos thrived in it, and could be cultured in vitro for a longer period of time as a result. Therefore, this media will be a useful tool for studying bovine embryo development in vitro, however it is unlikely to benefit calf production. In summary, this work provides evidence that zinc sulfate and IL6 are beneficial additions to SOF. However, future work is needed to determine if embryos produced with these factors are more able to produce a calf. Additionally, we discovered that TeSR is a superior extended blastocyst culture medium.
30
Espinoza, Omar A. "Quality Measurement in the Wood Products Supply Chain." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/37791.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this research is to learn about quality measurement practices in a wood products supply chain. According to the Supply Chain Management paradigm, companies no longer compete as individual entities, but as part of complex networks of suppliers and customers, linked together by flows of materials and information. Evidence suggests that a high degree of integration between supply chain members is essential to achieve superior market and financial performance. This study investigates the potential benefits from adopting supply chain quality management practices, focusing specifically on quality measurement. A case-study was conducted to accomplish the objectives of the research. An exemplary wood products supply chain was studied in great detail. The current state was compared with best practices, as reported in the literature. Supply chain quality metrics were used to assess current performance and a simulation model was developed to estimate the impact of changes in significant factors affecting quality, such as production volume, on the supply chainâ s quality performance.
Quality measurement practices in the supply chain of study are described in detail in this dissertation. A high degree of internal integration was observed in the focal company, attributed in great part to the leadership of management, which formulates comprehensive quality planning, specifying quality measurement practices and goals. These practices provide the company with a competitive advantage, and have undoubtedly contributed to its relatively strong market share and financial performance. Significant improvements in defect rate and on-time performance at all levels in the supply chain have been achieved in great part thanks to current initiatives. There is room for improvement, however, regarding external integration; the supply chain of study could benefit from more information sharing with its external suppliers and increasing its supplier development efforts. There is also a lack of true measures of supply chain quality performance that could facilitate tracing variances back to their origin upstream the supply chain. Supply chain metrics must reflect the contribution of each supply chain member to the overall performance, and span the entire supply chain. This is the first study that looks in depth at quality measurement practices from a supply chain perspective. It is also one of very few studies of supply chain management applied to the wood products industry. Examples are presented of how a supply chain performance measurement system can be developed. Results from this research show that it is important to adopt a supply chain perspective when designing a performance measurement system, not least to avoid sub-optimization. Poor quality at any point in the supply chain eventually translates into higher prices for the final customer, is detrimental to customer dissatisfaction, and hurts profitability; with the end result of declining competitiveness of the entire system.Ph. D.
31
Culbertson, Greg S. "Investigating methods of conditioning fresh vegetables in retail establishments and exploring procedural modifications that improve product quality and safety." The Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397488227.
Full text
32
Benson, Matthew C. "An economic valuation of improved water quality in Opequon watershed." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2006. https://eidr.wvu.edu/etd/documentdata.eTD?documentid=4666.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 143 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (part col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-108).
33
Wagner, Corey Edward. "Influence of selection for improved growth rate on pork quality." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2007.
Find full text
34
Phirke, Vishal Vasudeo. "Traffic Sensitive Active Queue Management for Improved Quality of Service." Digital WPI, 2002. https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/etd-theses/780.
Full textAbstract:
The Internet, traditionally FTP, e-mail and Web traffic, is increasingly supporting emerging applications such as IP telephony, video conferencing and online games. These new genres of applications have different requirements in terms of throughput and delay than traditional applications. For example, interactive multimedia applications, unlike traditional applications, have more stringent delay constraints and less stringent loss constraints. Unfortunately, the current Internet offers a monolithic best-effort service to all applications without considering their specific requirements. Adaptive RED (ARED) is an Active Queue Management (AQM) technique, which optimizes the router for throughput. Throughput optimization provides acceptable QoS for traditional throughput sensitive applications, but is unfair for these new delay sensitive applications. While previous work has used different classes of QoS at the router to accommodate applications with varying requirements, thus far all have provided just 2 or 3 classes of service for applications to choose from. We propose two AQM mechanisms to optimize router for better overall QoS. Our first mechanism, RED-Worcester, is a simple extension to ARED in order to tune ARED for better average QoS support. Our second mechanism, REDBoston, further extends RED-Worcester to improve the QoS for all flows. Unlike earlier approaches, we do not predefine classes of service, but instead provide a continuum from which applications can choose. We evaluate our approach using NS-2 and present results showing the amount of improvement in QoS achieved by our mechanisms over ARED.
35
Ntlokombini, Nyameko Nomhonxo Pearl. "Project management as a catalyst for improved quality within organisations." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1229.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MTech (Quality))-- Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010During the past decade, project management skills have become increasingly recognised as highly desirable for managers at all levels of organisations. Most people can benefit from the application of project management skills to some parts of their daily operations. The rapid growth of global markets and the introduction of total quality management, continuous improvement programmes and more recently, the drive to redesign business processes, all require some form of project management skills. In spite of the obvious benefits from project management, research has shown that more often than not, the traditional practice of project management does exist within organisations. This then may lead to service failure; thus impacting adversely on the efficiency and image of the organisation. This dispensation also applies to projects undertaken by the Eskom, which will serve as objective of this research study. The primary research objectives of this study are the following: To improve the quality of goods and services through the application of project management. To emphasise the importance of project management within an organisation. To demonstrate that project management, if used in conjunction with a quality management system, can improve service delivery. It is anticipated that the research will lead to an improvement of the control of processes and the overall service or product quality delivered by Eskom.
36
Zim, Bret E. "Improved Fabrication and Quality Control of Substrate Integrated Microelectrode Arrays." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2000. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2484/.
Full textAbstract:
Spontaneously active monolayer neuronal networks cultured on photoetched multimicroelectrode plates (MMEPs) offer great potential for use in studying neuronal networks. However, there are many problems associated with frequent, long-term use of MMEPs. The major problems include (1) polysiloxane insulation deterioration and breakdown, (2) and loss of gold at the gold electroplated indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. The objective of this investigation was to correct these major problems. Quality control measures were employed to monitor MMEP fabrication variables. The phenotypes of polysiloxane degradation were identified and classified. Factors that were found to contribute most to insulation deterioration were (1) moisture contamination during MMEP insulation, (2) loss of the quartz barrier layer from excessive exposure to basic solutions, and (3) repetitive use in culture. As a result, the insulation equipment and methods were modified to control moisture-dependent insulation deterioration, and the KOH reprocessing solution was replaced with tetramethylguanidine to prevent damage to the quartz. The problems associated with gold electroplating were solved via the addition of a pulsed-DC application of gold in a new citrate buffered electroplating solution.
37
Taylor, Jemma Louise. "Delayed bolting in rocket for improved quality and greater sustainability." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2015. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/77863/.
Full textAbstract:
Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) has recently become a popular salad leaf in the UK due to its peppery taste. It is grown widely in Italy but is now being produced in Spring and Summer in England. It is part of the Brassicaceae family and thus has a high level of homology at the DNA level to other Brassica species and Arabidopsis. This project aims to produce late bolting genotypes of rocket to incorporate into commercial breeding programmes. Delayed bolting is important as current varieties flower at unpredictable times and often earlier than desired. This is a problem because when rocket flowers it becomes unsaleable. Ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) was used to generate a mutant population of rocket. Late bolting lines were selected and whole genome sequencing was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) induced by the EMS which may be a cause of the late bolting phenotype. Six flowering pathway genes have been isolated from rocket and have been tested to see if they can functionally complement A. thaliana knockout lines in these genes. Further work was carried out to investigate how these genes were expressed over diurnal and developmental time courses to understand their function in the flowering time pathway in rocket. Together, these results show that most of the flowering pathway genes isolated from rocket are functional orthologues of those in Arabidopsis. The photoperiodic and vernalization requirements of rocket were investigated and it was found that rocket does not have a vernalization requirement and is a facultative long day plant. Targeted mutagenesis using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated system (cas9) was employed for the introduction of mutations into the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene in rocket and Arabidopsis. Many late flowering Arabidopsis lines were identified and sequencing revealed the successful manipulation of the FT gene. Two late bolting rocket lines were also identified. Overall, the project aims were achieved as late bolting rocket lines have been produced and will be incorporated into a rocket breeding programme.
38
Van, Bennekom Frederick C. "The boundary spanning activities of the customer support organization: hearing and articulating the customer's voice to improve software product quality." Thesis, Boston University, 1994. https://hdl.handle.net/2144/33583.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (D.B.A.)--Boston UniversityPLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.
Quality management has become a key competitive factor (Garvin, 1988). Product design quality requires incorporating the wants and needs of the customer base into new product development, and product conformance quality relies upon identifying and resolving flaws found in the products. Collecting this feedback requires that the boundary between the customer and the firm be spanned, and applying the feedback requires that it be communicated to the functional group that can effect product improvement. Through its constant interaction with customers, the customer support group is well positioned to sense this customer feedback and communicate it to the product development group. This dissertation examined the strategic role of the customer support organization within software companies as a quality assurance agent. While traditionally viewed as a rectifier of external quality failures, the research model proposed that customer support could also serve appraisal and preventive quality assurance roles through its boundary spanning activities. A small sample, comparative case study tested hypotheses about customer support's boundary spanning and provided for grounded theory building. The research revealed three primary findings. First, service delivery designs that included higher levels of customer contact allowed the service agents to sense a broader range of customer issues. Second, product quality increased when the customer data were collected in a detailed format structured to meet the practices of the development group. Third, product quality also increased when the customer support group had more involvement in product management decisions throughout the product development cycle. Through grounded theory-building, the research identified contextual factors that fostered a preventative quality assurance role for customer support.
2031-01-01
39
Schutte, Sumari. "Development of value added ostrich (Struthio Camelus) meat products." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20860.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objectives of this study were threefold: (i) to investigate the effect of the replacement of pork fat with olive oil on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of ostrich polony; (ii) to investigate the effect of replacement of sodium tri-polyphosphate (STPP) with iota-carrageenan (CGN) on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of restructured cooked ostrich ham; and (iii) to investigate the effect of salt (NaCl) reduction on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of ostrich bacon. Five levels of olive oil were added to a polony formulation in 5% increments from 0 to 20%. Hardness, gumminess and shear force values decreased (P≤0.05) with increased levels of olive oil. The L* and b* values decreased (P≤0.05) with increased levels of olive oil producing lighter and more yellow products. Ostrich polony proved to have a favourable fatty acid profile in line with international recommended standards. A trained sensory panel found that the effect of increased levels of olive oil on had an effect (P≤0.05) on the sensory characteristics of colour; processed meat aroma and flavour; ostrich aroma; olive oil aroma; firmness and juiciness. A consumer panel found all the olive oil treatments to be acceptable. It can be concluded that olive oil can be used successfully for the production of low fat ostrich meat polony. In a restructured ostrich ham five decreasing levels of phosphate (0.7, 0.53, 0.35, 0.18 and 0%) were substituted with five increasing levels of carrageenan (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4%). The cooked yield of the restructured ostrich ham decreased significantly (P≤0.05) with decreased levels of phosphate. No tendencies in instrumental colour measurements with relation to decreased levels of phosphate were revealed. Hardness, cohesiveness and gumminess increased with decreased levels of phosphate. Ostrich ham had a favourable fatty acid profile and the latter is in line with international recommended standards. The trained sensory panel found that decreased levels of phosphate had a significant effect on the ham sensory characteristics of meat aroma and flavour; ostrich meat aroma and flavour and mealiness, but no significant effect on the spicy aroma and flavour. Three ham treatments with different levels of phosphate (0.7, 0.35 and 0%) were presented to a consumer panel. The consumer panel found the ham treatments with levels of 0.7 and 0.35% most acceptable. Carrageenan can be used to substitute phosphate at a level of 0.35% phosphate and 0.2% carrageenan in ostrich ham. Ostrich bacon was produces with five targeted salt (NaCl) levels of 3.5, 2.75, 2.0, 1.25, and 0.5%. Decreased salt levels had no significant effect on the L*, a* and b* values of the five treatments. Ostrich bacon had a favourible fatty acid profile. A trained sensory panel found that the effect of increased levels of salt had a significant effect on bacon sensory characteristics of ostrich aroma and flavour smoky bacon aroma and flavour and saltiness. A consumer panel found all the bacon treatments acceptable, with 2.75 and 2.0% being most likable. It can be concluded that, from a technical point of view, the salt content in ostrich bacon can be reduced successfully to produce ostrich bacon with low salt levels, although consumer preference for salt remains high.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was drievoudig: (i) om die effek van die vervanging van varkvet met olyfolie op die fisiko-chemiese en sensoriese eienskappe van volstruispolonie te bestudeer; (ii) om die effek van die vervanging van natriumtripolifosfaat met iotakarrageenan op die fisikochemiese en sonsoriese eienskappe op die van hergestruktureerde volstruisham te bestudeer; en (iii) om die effek van sout (NaCl) vermindering op die fisiko-chemiese en sensoriese eienskappe van volstruisspek te bestudeer. Die polonie behandelings het uit vyf vlakke olyfolie bestaan wat by die polonie formulasie in 5% inkremente 0% tot 20% gevoeg is. Hardheid, taaiheid en skeurkrag het afgeneem (P≤0.05) met verhoogde vlakke van olyfolie. Die L*- en b*-waardes het afgeneem (P≤0.05) met verhoogde vlakke van olyfolie en uiteibdelik ‘n ligter en geler produk geproduseer. Die betrokke volstruispolonie behandelings het ‘n gunstige vetsuurprofiel wat in lyn is met internasionale aanbevole standaarde. ‘n Opgeleide sensoriese paneel het gevind dat die verhoogde vlakke van olyfolie ‘n betekenisvolle (P≤0.05) effek het op die kleur, geprossesseerde vleisgeur en -aroma, volstruis aroma, olyfolie aroma, fermheid en sappigheid. ‘n Verbruikerspaneel het gevind dat al vyf polonie behandelings aanvaarbaar is. Olyfolie kan dus suksesvol gebruik word in die produksie van laevet volstruispolonie. Hergestruktureerde volstruisham het bestaan uit vyf afnemende fosfaat vlakke (0.7, 0.53, 0.35, 0.18 and 0%) en vyf toenemende vlakke van karrageenan (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4%). Die opbrengs van gaar hergestruktureerde volstruisham het afgeneem (P≤0.05) met verlaagde vlakke van fosfaat. Geen betekenisvolle patroon is in instrumentele kleurmeting gevind nie. Hardheid, binding en taaiheid het toegeneem met afnemende fosfaat vlakke. Daar is bewys dat volstruisham ‘n gunstige vetsuurprofiel het wat in lyn is met internasionale aanbevole standaarde het. ‘n Opgeleide sensoriese paneel het gevind dat afnemende fosfaatvlakke ‘n betekenisvolle effek op die sensoriese eienskappe van volstruisvleis geur en aroma asook melerigheid, maar geen betekenisvolle effek op die speserygeur en -aroma gehad nie. Drie behandelings met verskillende fosfaat vlakke (0.7, 0.35 and 0%) is deur ‘n verbruikerspaneel vir aanvaaraarheid getoets. Die verbruikerspaneel het gevind dat die behandelings met 0.7 en 0.35% fosfaat aanvaarbaar was. Karrageenan kan dus gebruik word om fosfaat te vervang by ‘n vlak van 0.35% fosfaat en 0.2% karrageenan in volstruisham. Volstruisspek is geproduseet met vyf soutvlakke (NaCl), nl 3.5, 2.75, 2.0, 1.25 en 0.5%. Verlaagde soutvlakke het geen beteknisvolle effek op die L*-, a*- en b*-waardes van die vyf behandelings gehad nie. Volstruisspek het ook ‘n besonder gunstige vetsuurprofiel. ‘n Opgeleide sensoriese paneel het gevind dat die effek van verhoogde soutvlakke ‘n betekenisvolle effek het op die volgende sensoriese eienskappe: geur en aroma van volstruisvleis; geur en aroma van gerookte spek; en southeid. ‘n Verbruikerspaneel het gevind dat al die behandelings aanvaarbaar was, met die monsters met 2.75 and 2.0% sout as mees aanvaarbaar. In opsomming, die soutinhoud van volstruisspek kan uit ‘n tegniese oogpunt suksesvol verlaag word om ‘n produk met ‘n laer soutinhoud te produseer, alhoewel verbruikersvoorkeur vir sout hoog bly.
40
Матвієнко, Сергій Борисович. "Підвищення ефективності застосування змащувально-охолоджуючих засобів у виробництві." Master's thesis, КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського, 2019. https://ela.kpi.ua/handle/123456789/30928.
Full textAbstract:
Структура та об’єм роботи. У магістерську дисертацію входить вступ, 3 розділи, загальні висновки, список використаної літератури. Робота складається з 69 сторінок тексту, 3 таблиці, 11 рисунків, 15 літературних джерел.
Актуальність теми. В цей час, протягом тридцяти – сорока років має особливу, важливу роль змащувально-охолоджуючі технологічні засоби для розвитку оброблення матеріалів різанням. Оптимальний підбір ЗОТЗ сприяє покращенню продуктивності виробництва, а також якості виробу тощо. Однак досі виникають питання по покращенню ефективності ЗОТЗ. Автор піднімає питання покращенню ефективності ЗОТЗ, структурний аналіз сумішей, переваги й недоліки їх, а також ефективність застосування даних технологічних засобів.
Мета й завдання дослідження. Аналіз й розробка теоретичних основ ефективності змащувально-охолоджуючих технологічних засобів, їх структури, вплив на продуктивність виробництва, якість, шорсткість виробу. Визначення переваг і недоліків певних перспективних змащувально-охолоджуючих технологічних засобів, їх структури, підходу, підводу до зони різання, універсальність тощо.
Об'єкт дослідження – ефективність змащувально-охолоджуючих технологічних засобів.
Предмет дослідження – визначення значення змащувально-охолоджуючих технологічних засобів у виробництві.
Методи дослідження: аналіз раніше опублікованих робіт, основ різання матеріалів і теорії змащувально-охолоджуючих технологічних засобів.
Наукова новизна отриманих результатів
1. Комплексний аналіз та висновки щодо впливу процесів різання на продуктивність виробництва й якість виробу.
2. Аналіз отриманої інформації та визначення типів сумішей, підводу до зони різання тощо.
3. Розробка алгоритму автоматизованого вибору ЗОР для підвищення ефективності виробництва.
4. Проведений аналіз дасть змогу підбити висновки щодо ефективності змащувально-охолоджувальних технологічних засобів. Визначення ефективних способів оброблення металів різання з використанням ЗОТЗ.
Практичне значення отриманих результатів. Отримана інформація допоможе дізнатися про підвищення ефективності способи застосування ЗОТЗ. Це дасть змогу підвищити продуктивність виробництва, а також підвищити якість виготовлених виробів.The structure and scope of work. The master's thesis includes an introduction, 3 chapters, conclusions, a list of used literature. The work consists of 69 pages of text, 3 tables, 11 figures, 15 literary sources. Relevance of the topic. At this time, for thirty - forty years, lubricating and cooling technological means for the development of cutting materials have a special, important role. The optimal selection of lubricating-cooling technological means contributes to the improvement of production productivity, as well as product quality and the like. However, there are still questions about improving the effectiveness of the lubricating-cooling technological means. The author raises the question of improving the efficiency of lubricating-cooling technological means, structural analysis of mixtures, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the effectiveness of using these technological tools. The purpose and objectives of the study. Analysis of the effectiveness of cutting lubricants, their structure, the impact on production productivity, quality, product roughness. Determination of the advantages and disadvantages of certain promising cutting lubricants, their structure, approach, approach to the cutting zone, versatility, etc. Object of study - the effectiveness of lubricating-cooling technological means. The subject of the study is the determination of the value of cutting lubricants in production. Research methods: analysis of previously published works, the fundamentals of cutting materials and the theory of cutting lubricants. Scientific novelty of the results 1. Analysis and conclusions about the impact of cutting processes on production productivity and product quality. 2. Analysis of the information received and determination of the types of mixtures, supply to the cutting zone and the like. 3. Development of an algorithm for automated selection of cutting fluid to improve production efficiency. 4. The analysis will allow us to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of cutting lubricants. Determination of effective methods of processing metal cutting using lubricating-cooling technological means. The practical significance of the results. The information obtained will help to learn about improving the efficiency of the use of lubricating-cooling technological means. This will increase production productivity, as well as improve the quality of manufactured products.
Структура и объем работы. В магистерскую диссертацию входит введение, 3 главы, выводы, список использованной литературы. Работа состоит из 69 страниц текста, 3 таблицы, 11 рисунков, 15 литературных источников. Актуальность темы. В это время, в течение тридцати - сорока лет имеет особую, важную роль смазочно-охлаждающие технологические средства для развития обработки материалов резанием. Оптимальный подбор СОТС способствует улучшению производительности производства, а также качества изделия и тому подобное. Однако до сих пор возникают вопросы по улучшению эффективности СОТС. Автор поднимает вопрос улучшению эффективности СОТС, структурный анализ смесей, преимущества и недостатки их, а также эффективность применения данных технологических средств. Цель и задачи исследования. Анализ эффективности смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств, их структуры, влияние на производительность производства, качество, шероховатость изделия. Определение преимуществ и недостатков определенных перспективных смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств, их структуры, подхода, подводу к зоне резки, универсальность и др. Объект исследования - эффективность смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств. Предмет исследования - определение значения смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств в производстве. Методы исследования: анализ ранее опубликованных работ, основ резания материалов и теории смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств. Научная новизна полученных результатов 1. Анализ и выводы о влиянии процессов резания на производительность производства и качество изделия. 2. Анализ полученной информации и определения типов смесей, подводу в зону резания и тому подобное. 3. Разработка алгоритма автоматизированного выбора СОЖ для повышения эффективности производства. 4. Проведенный анализ позволит подвести выводы относительно эффективности смазочно-охлаждающих технологических средств. Определение эффективных способов обработки металлов резки с использованием СОТС. Практическое значение полученных результатов. Полученная информация поможет узнать о повышении эффективности способы применения СОТС. Это позволит повысить производительность производства, а также повысить качество изготавливаемых изделий.
41
Leavengood, Scott A. "Identifying Best Quality Management Practices for Achieving Quality and Innovation Performance in the Forest Products Industry." PDXScholar, 2010. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/136.
Full textAbstract:
In many business sectors today, the focus on quality as a competitive tool is being replaced by a focus on innovation. Research exploring connections between quality management, innovation, and company performance suggests that quality is 'necessary but insufficient' in today's business environment. In short, the question facing managers, particularly those in small firms, is how to adapt their quality management practices to achieve innovation performance in addition to quality performance. To answer this question, West Coast U.S. forest products manufacturers were surveyed about quality management practices and performance with respect to both quality and innovation. Quality management practices were assessed following the systems perspective articulated by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Data envelopment analysis was used to identify companies efficiently using quality management practices to lead to quality and/or innovation performance. Survey responses from the efficient firms were then analyzed via cluster analysis to identify two categories of firms: those achieving primarily quality outcomes and those achieving both quality and innovation outcomes. Executives from two firms in each category were interviewed to provide detail on the management practices used by the companies. Interview transcripts were examined to identify similarities and differences in practices between the two categories of firms. Results suggest several specific areas of focus for firms wanting to adapt their quality management practices to achieve both quality and innovation performance. For example, firms focused on innovation proactively seek to identify and meet customers' needs whereas quality-focused firms primarily emphasize reacting to customer complaints. More specifically with respect to 'customer focus', firms focused on innovation emphasize convenience for their customers through practices such as standardizing product lines and providing product specifications on their websites. In contrast, neither quality-focused firm had a website. These firms were at their production capacity (at least prior to the recession) and viewed websites strictly as a means to attract new business rather than as a service to existing customers. Also with regards to customer focus, firms focused on innovation sought to generate new business - not just for their company, but for their customers as well. Beyond customer focus, firms focused on innovation provide employees with opportunities to help the organization implement changes. With respect to benchmarking, firms focused on innovation actively sought to measure their performance against the 'best practice' in the industry; firms focused primarily on quality performance demonstrated little if any emphasis on benchmarking. Finally, there were apparent overarching and hence cultural differences between the two categories of firms - firms focused on innovation were more proactive, strategic, and willing to take risk; in addition, these firms discussed innovation as the means to improve product quality, reduce costs, or attract new customers. By contrast, the quality-focused firms were reactive, conservative, and risk-averse; these firms discussed innovation primarily as 'technology' without reference to potential linkages to company performance.
42
Marques, Joana M. "Refinement of mouse husbandry for improved animal welfare and research quality /." Uppsala : Dept of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. http://epsilon.slu.se/2007104.pdf.
Full text
43
Rönnbäck, Britt-Inger. "Are uncertain uncertainties useful?: towards improved quality assessment of spatial data /." Luleå, 2004. http://epubl.luth.se/1402-1544/2004/013.
Full text
44
Kiourktsidis, Ilias. "Flexible cross layer design for improved quality of service in MANETs." Thesis, Brunel University, 2011. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7464.
Full textAbstract:
Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) are becoming increasingly important because of their unique characteristics of connectivity. Several delay sensitive applications are starting to appear in these kinds of networks. Therefore, an issue in concern is to guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) in such constantly changing communication environment. The classical QoS aware solutions that have been used till now in the wired and infrastructure wireless networks are unable to achieve the necessary performance in the MANETs. The specialized protocols designed for multihop ad hoc networks offer basic connectivity with limited delay awareness and the mobility factor in the MANETs makes them even more unsuitable for use. Several protocols and solutions have been emerging in almost every layer in the protocol stack. The majority of the research efforts agree on the fact that in such dynamic environment in order to optimize the performance of the protocols, there is the need for additional information about the status of the network to be available. Hence, many cross layer design approaches appeared in the scene. Cross layer design has major advantages and the necessity to utilize such a design is definite. However, cross layer design conceals risks like architecture instability and design inflexibility. The aggressive use of cross layer design results in excessive increase of the cost of deployment and complicates both maintenance and upgrade of the network. The use of autonomous protocols like bio-inspired mechanisms and algorithms that are resilient on cross layer information unavailability, are able to reduce the dependence on cross layer design. In addition, properties like the prediction of the dynamic conditions and the adaptation to them are quite important characteristics. The design of a routing decision algorithm based on Bayesian Inference for the prediction of the path quality is proposed here. The accurate prediction capabilities and the efficient use of the plethora of cross layer information are presented. Furthermore, an adaptive mechanism based on the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to control the flow of the data in the transport layer. The aforementioned flow control mechanism inherits GA’s optimization capabilities without the need of knowing any details about the network conditions, thus, reducing the cross layer information dependence. Finally, is illustrated how Bayesian Inference can be used to suggest configuration parameter values to the other protocols in different layers in order to improve their performance.
45
Rosenstreich, Daniela, and n/a. "A consumer-oriented view of quality : an exploratory study of quality in the context of marketing�s scholarly articles." University of Otago. Department of Marketing, 2007. http://adt.otago.ac.nz./public/adt-NZDU20070928.160805.
Full textAbstract:
Current models of quality in the marketing discipline tend to have a producer orientation. Influences on quality outside the control of the firm, such as consumer perceptions or needs, are only addressed in a rudimentary manner. While quality is acknowledged as being determined by the consumer and akin to an attitude, ironically, literature on quality is not well grounded in relevant theory from psychology and related disciplines.
This thesis presents an exploration of quality and its meaning within the context of assessing scholarly marketing articles. The objective of the study is to develop a new consumer- oriented model of quality to enhance understanding of the construct, enabling marketers to better influence consumers� assessment of quality.
The academic marketplace involves articulate and experienced producers, channel members and consumers. An investigation of quality within the context of marketing�s scholarly articles therefore provides rich material for refining the quality construct. The first stage of the research addressed two research questions related to scholarly articles: RQ1: What intrinsic factors (article attributes) influence quality assessments? RQ2: What extrinsic factors (external to the article) influence quality assessments?
The components of quality in scholarly articles were drawn from several sources: literature sources; journal editorial policies; key informant interviews; and analysis of the content and editorial boards of the top journals. Overall, results suggested a connection between consumers� assessments of quality and factors such as their belief structures, reference group norms, and consumption context.
The empirical findings led to further investigation through literature analysis. Theories from psychology helped to explain the interplay of beliefs, attitudes and perceptions in quality assessments and suggest consumer characteristics (such as the rigidity of mental sets, or novelty seeking behaviour) that influence that interplay.
On a theoretical level, the new quality model integrates theories of psychology with product-oriented aspects providing a multifaceted view of the quality construct. This is achieved by using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as the central framework, providing a robust depiction of quality assessment from a consumer perspective. Elements of quality from managerial models, such as product attributes and company image, are found to fit logically into the new structure. The new model also reveals connections with the philosophy and sociology of science and provides an enhanced understanding of the workings of academia and the dissemination of scholarly knowledge.
There has previously been no comprehensive study of quality in academic articles, therefore on a practical level the model of quality supports authors in producing improved manuscripts, thus enabling faster review and dissemination of research within the discipline. Further research to refine and test the model is recommended.
46
Seremeti, Maria Makri. "Evaluation of the quality of individual quick frozen fish products." Thesis, Robert Gordon University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10059/648.
Full textAbstract:
In the present study the effects of characteristic freezing times and storage time at -22°C on the quality of the adductor muscle of post-rigor scallops (Pecten maximus)and gilthead seabream fillets (Sparusa urata) were studied in regard to the integrity of muscle structure, myofibrillar protein denaturation and aggregation, lipid degradation, texture and sensory changes. This information would be useful for achieving optimal conditions for freezing these species and assessing their quality during frozen storage for commercial purposes. Scallop muscles and gilthead seabream fillets were frozen individually with characteristic freezing times that can be met in commercial practice of freezing seafoods. After freezing, the samples were thawed and their quality was evaluated. Fresh samples were analyzed as controls. Intermediate characteristic freezing times (i. e. 89 and 49 minutes for scallop muscles and 74 minutes for gilthead seabream fillets) caused more damage to cell structure of both species than the shorter and longer characteristic freezing times tested. Short characteristic freezing times (i. e. 19 minutes for scallop muscles, and 2 and 18 minutes for gilthead seabream fillets) reduced the thawing losses of both species compared to the longer characteristic freezing times (. e. 235 to 1000 minutes for scallop muscles, and 640 minutes for gilthead seabream fillets) tested. Freezing at short characteristic freezing times produced raw fillets similar in texture to the fresh fillets. Therefore, short characteristic freezing times (equal to or less than 19 minutes) are beneficial for freezing both species. Scallop muscles and gilthead seabream fillets were kept frozen for up to 301 and 340 days, respectively. Sampling was carried out at regular intervals on fresh and stored frozen samples. Storage time affected the integrity of infra-cellular organelles, reduced the water holding capacity, caused structural changes to myofibrillar proteins and affected the sensory attributes of both species. Frozen scallop muscles were in acceptable eating condition after a storage period of ten months, with most of the changes in bio-chemical and physical properties being pronounced after three months of storage. Based on the changes in taste scores versus storage time, it was assessed that the practical storage life of frozen gilthead seabream fillets was circa 5 to 6 months Cat+-ATPase activities for scallop muscles and a linear model that combines free fatty acids, peroxide values and protein content in centrifugal tissue fluids for gilthead seabream fillets, may be reliable methods for industry to use for assessing their quality during long term storage at -22°C.
47
Lun, Hsu Wei, and 許瑋倫. "Improved Wireless Network Products Quality based on Customer Reviews– A Case Study with Amazon." Thesis, 2018. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/934wp4.
Full textAbstract:
碩士輔仁大學
資訊工程學系碩士班
106
Wireless networks are ubiquitous, and the role of wireless routers is becoming more and more important. Most wireless routers are manufactured by outsourcing foundries, and the quality of wireless routers depends on the specialty of the foundry. If product quality is not well controlled during mass production stage, there will be an extra burden of heavy work. Not only the high cost of the foundry, but also the customer satisfaction with the outsourcing foundry decline. If the product is returned by the consumer, loss is not just the sale revenue, even the brand image will be influenced. This study collects the customer reviews of wireless router products from the Amazon website, and tags the data using five parameters: reply, function, error status, connection problem, and keyword. The customer reviews is trained and tested using the decision tree to know the classification result and severity levels. Severity levels 1 to 5 are assigned to the engineering department to enhance the testing quality and methods, and Severity level 6 to 7 are assigned to the marketing department are assigned to the market research department for customer behavior analysis. This study also tags the customer reviews using wireless network category, year, and price, and classifies with the decision tree and logistic regression. Compare the two methods’ Precision and Recall values. Through the results of the experiment, the decision tree will be more suitable for the classification of customer reviews.
48
Hsu, Ming-Fu, and 許明富. "Using Six-Sigma Method to Improve The Quality of Rubber Products." Thesis, 2017. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/2u2b32.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立高雄應用科技大學
模具系碩士在職專班
105
A Six-Sigma approach that employs well-structured statistical analysis tools and improvement methodologies to continuously reduce process variability and eliminate waste within the business processes that has become a powerful strategy as well as a new standard for customer satisfaction and profitable guaranty in modern business and manufacturing environments. The aim of this research is to investigate warpage defects of injection molding rubber products happening in an injection molding company and further to improve them by using the Six-Sigma methodologies. This case study begins from classifying and defining quality problems based on complaints of customers received from auto parts rubber injection-molding. The warpage defects are found to be the most critical of all quality problems. In that various statistical tools are used to measure and analyze them. Moreover, Taguchi methodology and experimental design are employed to find out the optimal parameters settings for improving and reducing the warpage defects in the injection molding process. The results show that by controlling molding temperature at 60℃, melting temperature at 240℃, packing pressure at 60 MPa, packing time at 20 seconds, and cooling time lasting 15 seconds can obtain the least warpage defects.
49
HUNG, HSU-HUANG, and 洪需凰. "Add Probiotics to Improve the Quality of Enzyme Products Sold in Taiwan." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/xx4fh7.
Full textAbstract:
碩士朝陽科技大學
應用化學系
107
The raw materials of the commercially available enzyme preparations in Taiwan contain wild yeast and bacteria. If they are not inhibited by probiotics during fermentation, the finished enzyme may produce undesirable flavors and tend to reduce consumer preference for the product, so it is desirable that the probiotics of the major bacterial species become dominant species in the fermentation process. , giving the enzyme product a good flavor. In the process of traditional fermentation production of enzymes, if the taste of alcohol and vinegar is produced, other additives will be added to suppress and reduce these undesired tastes; in the past, the taste and vinegar taste of the wine was found during the enzyme fermentation, which is attributed to An abnormality in quality control. This is also a failure. It is hoped that by discovering probiotics with better organoleptic properties such as overall acceptability, flavor, sweetness and sourness, it will become a dominant species in the process of making enzyme products, and it can inhibit the undesirable flavor of bacteria. Because probiotics produce acid, they inhibit the production of wine in wild yeast. Probiotics are relatively easy to control strains. Their functions and methods of use are widely studied. Only by selecting the right strain can the enzyme product have good natural quality and flavor. The three groups of dominant bacteria selected in this study, in collaboration with seven brands, used each brand's formula plus three groups of preferred dominant flora to have a good effect on the overall acceptance of consumer sensory evaluation. Impact can shorten the process.
50
Chen, Ching-Hsiang, and 陳清祥. "Integration of multiple quality characteristics experimental design to improve the electromagnetic compatibility of electronic products." Thesis, 2016. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/fwcx4j.
Full text